The Emperor requested her to stay at the court, and he gave her a large golden cage and allowed her to go out twice every day. He provided her with twelve servants, each of whom held a silken string which was fastened to her leg, and you may be sure that she found but little pleasure flying about, hampered in this way.
Very soon everyone in the city was talking about the wonderful bird, and even the tradesmen’s children were all named after her, although none of them could sing a note.
Some time after this the Emperor received a large parcel on which was written “The Nightingale.”
“This must be another book about our famous bird,” said the Emperor.
But he was mistaken, for it was a mechanical toy, an artificial Nightingale which looked something like a real bird but was covered with jewels. When it was wound up it could sing the piece the real bird sang, and moved its tail up and down. Around its neck was a collar on which was written: “The Nightingale of the Emperor of Japan cannot be compared with that of the Emperor of China.”
“How wonderful!” said everyone, and the man who had brought the clock-work bird was given the title of “Bringer of the Imperial First Nightingale.”
They sang together, but it did not sound well, for the real Nightingale sang her own song, and the clock-work bird sang waltzes.
“It isn’t its fault!” said the bandmaster. “It keeps very good time and is quite after my style.”
Then the artificial bird had to sing alone. It was very pleasant to listen to, and it was also pretty to look at, as the jewels with which it was covered sparkled so. It sang the same piece many times without becoming tired, and then the Emperor thought that the real Nightingale should sing again. But she was not to be found; the window was open and without anybody seeing her go, she had flown away to her beloved forest.
The Emperor was very angry when it was discovered that the real bird had gone away, and everyone agreed that it was a very ungracious thing for her to have done. But they all said that the bird sent by the Japanese ruler was the better of the two, and especially did the bandmaster praise it. He said that one knew just what to expect from the artificial bird, but the real one would sing the most unusual tunes. The bird they had now could be opened, and the inside shown and explained, but if this were done to the other it would die.